Public Relations + Communications Manager

Location 120 6TH AVE N STE 100,Seattle, WA, 98109-5002,United States

Job Title: Public Relations + Communications Manager

Reports to: Vice President, Marketing Strategy + Sponsorships

Department: Marketing + Communications

Supervises: Does not supervise others

Position Summary
The Museum of Pop Culture (MOPOP) is continuing to elevate its brand presence locally, nationally, and globally. The Public Relations + Communications Manager plays a key role in shaping and amplifying MOPOP’s voice as a leading cultural institution across music, film, fashion, and gaming.

Reporting to the VP of Marketing Strategy + Sponsorships, this role is responsible for developing and executing public relations and communications strategies that strengthen brand visibility, deepen audience connection, and support organizational priorities. This individual will serve as a strategic partner across the organization, working closely with internal stakeholders and external agency partners to ensure cohesive, compelling storytelling and consistent messaging.

The ideal candidate brings a strong understanding of media relations, a passion for pop culture, and the ability to translate complex initiatives into engaging narratives that resonate with diverse audiences.

Essential Job Duties (other duties as assigned)
Brand & Narrative Strategy

Champion MOPOP’s brand voice and positioning, ensuring consistency across all communications and public-facing messaging

Develop and support strategic communications plans that elevate exhibitions, public programs, partnerships, and institutional initiatives

Position MOPOP as a leading voice in pop culture byidentifyingand advancing storytelling opportunities that reflect the organization’s impact and values

Collaborate with leadership to shape messaging for key announcements and organizational priorities

Media Relations & Public Relations

Build andmaintainstrong relationships with media across local, regional, national, and international outlets

Lead day-to-day media engagement, including responding to inquiries, coordinating interviews, and securing coverage that enhances visibility and reputation

Draft and edit press materials including press releases, media advisories, fact sheets, and talking points

Support the development and coordination of spokesperson preparation and media opportunities

Agency & Stakeholder Management

Serve as the primary point of contact for external PR agency partners, guiding execution and ensuring alignment with MOPOP’s goals and priorities

Coordinate cross-functional efforts with Marketing, Curatorial, Education, Philanthropy, and other teams to support integrated campaign delivery

Facilitate the development of campaign assets, messaging, and timelines in collaboration with internal and external partners

Provide on-site PR support for exhibition openings, media previews, and select public programs and events

Communications Operations & Governance

Support the development and implementation of crisis communications in partnership with leadership and agency partners

Maintain organized records of media outreach, coverage, and communications activity

Prepare summaries and reports to keep leadership informed of communications efforts and outcomes

Uphold and support the implementation of media policies, permissions, and communications protocols to ensure consistency and compliance

MOPOP Community

Support and contribute to a culture that inspires and empowers staff to live MOPOP’s mission and values

Foster collaboration across teams to ensure a consistent and high-quality experience for both internal partners and museum guests

Contribute to a workplace culture that values connection, inclusion, and shared success

Preferred/Desired Qualifications

Minimum of five (5) years of progressive experience in public relations, communications, brand strategy, or a related field, withdemonstratedexperience managing projects or campaigns

Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, Public Relations, Media Studies, or a related field; advanced degree preferred

Experience working in arts, culture, nonprofit, or entertainment sectors strongly preferred

Demonstrated ability to develop and execute communications strategies that elevate brand visibility and audience engagement

Strong media relations experience, witha track recordof securing coverage and building relationships across multiple markets

Experience managing external agency partners and coordinating across cross-functional teams

Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to tailor messaging for a variety of audiences and platforms

Experience developing press materials, talking points, and communications for senior leaders

Familiarity with analytics tools, CRM platforms, and project management systems

Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment

This full-time position includes Medical/Vision insurance, Dental insurance, 3.08 hours of accrued Vacation per bi-weekly pay period, Seattle Sick/Safe, up to 8 Company Holidays paid throughout the year, EAP, 401k plan with vested match schedule once eligible, and subsidized transportation benefits for Orca Pass or parking.

Why MOPOP?
We’re really glad you’re thinking about joining the team at MOPOP! We believe pop culture is a universal language capable of building connections across a range of people, no matter our differences in race, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, ability, education, socio-economic status, ethnicity, country of origin, or any other characteristic that makes us who we are. For more than twenty years, we have been showcasing how music, film, fashion, video games, sports, and more spark those connections and create a lasting cultural impact.

MOPOP provides both a physical space and an emotional and intellectual opportunity for people from any background to explore, find and build community, and recognize their own creative potential. This applies not only to our guests, but also to our staff — be it in designing an educational program to engage the next generation of creators, trying to reach a new audience with a marketing initiative, preserving an artifact in our collection, or providing excellent customer service to a visitor. If this sounds like something you’d be into, we’d love to hear from you!

MOPOP’s Mission and Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility
Our mission is to activate the world-shaping power of pop culture through participative experiences, discovery, and play. We believe pop culture connects us, and that it is powerful, complex, alive and who we are. MOPOP is actively committed to ongoing learning in the areas of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA). In partnership with our community, we hope to also develop safe spaces for their application. This includes taking steps to continue increasing our awareness of institutional “-isms,” as well as uncovering and undoing the ways they show up in museum culture. We recognize this is a process that requires intentionality, energy, and resources, and we are developing a DEIA framework that can cultivate a work environment and museum experience that is truly welcoming for all.

We are committed to creating an inclusive and equitable workplace, and we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We believe that having staff, interns, and volunteers with diverse backgrounds enables us to better meet our mission and encourage BIPOC, women, and LGBTQIA2S+ individuals to apply. We acknowledge that our work to build safe spaces and better systems for traditionally marginalized groups is ongoing and will require constant vigilance and expect all MOPOP employees to be part of our DEIA journey.

Please email

jobs@mopop.org

if you need reasonable accommodations during the application or hiring process.

Requirements

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At MOPOP, we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. If you are excited about a role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways. You may be just the candidate we are looking for!

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